I am watching yet another young African-Englander telling me how my wicked ancestors made a fortune out of enslaving and selling Africans and how the entire country is built on slavery. Bollocks! Yes, Britain was involved in the slave trade and individuals made money out of it but this is only part of the picture. The British Parliament made slavery illegal two centuries ago and around forty years before the freedom-loving republic of the Americas followed suit. Furthermore the British navy enforced the Act on the high seas. Can any other country say the same?
slavery is endemic in Africa and Africans sold their own people into slavery. Is any African likely to apologise to African-Americans or Trinidadians? I don't think so?
Event of this time need to be examined in context. Take a look at the working conditions of Britons in the mills and mines.
Philosophers and Gentlefolk do not create empires. It was created and did much to shape the world we live in, much of it, like a common language, beneficial.
Personally I think the world and Africa in particular, needs to move on. Unless some other group is looking for an apology?
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